Addition by subtraction: The Braves trade Yunel Escobar
It wasn’t just that Yunel Escobar was slow to learn a second language. He was slow to learn to be a professional. How many times do you have to be told to hustle — a concept that should be universal — before it’s clear you just don’t care to do it?
No one can suggest the Braves didn’t give him a fair chance. He played 446 big-league games for this club, and his excesses worsened over time. And it’s one thing to hang on to a problem if the problem is hitting and driving in runs, but at age 27 Escobar had ceased doing that. He has no home runs, 19 RBIs.
Even with the Braves in first place, this was the right move at the right time. We shouldn’t worry about the absence of Escobar roiling the waters. He was always the guy most apt to upset the others with his disregard for the game and its conventions. He was always the Brave the others could count on to carry himself least like a Brave.
Escobar’s defenders believed the language barrier — he defected from Cuba — led him to misunderstand and be misunderstood. Coaches Chino Cadahia and Eddie Perez, each of whom acted as interpreters, told me as much last season. But should a big-league player fail so repeatedly to perform the basic task of playing hard? The message seems to get through to Omar Infante, a Venezuelan who also uses translators.
A tiny example: On a Sunday afternoon earlier this season, Escobar drove a ball in the gap in left-center. His hit brought home the go-ahead run, but somehow he managed to get thrown out at second base on a ball so perfectly placed that it would have been a double for anybody else in the big leagues. (Put it this way: Sid Bream would have made it.)
Escobar got thrown out because he watched the flight of the ball and admired his work, as opposed to running hard. The Braves noticed. The Braves always noticed. As one man in the clubhouse said afterward, exasperation in his voice: “He has been told time and time again.”
About the trade: This isn’t an exchange of equal talent. Alex Gonzalez is a serviceable big-league shortstop who played on a World Series winner with Florida in 2003 and delivered the biggest hit — a walk-off homer in Game 4 — of the Series. He’s 33, which means he’s not a long-term answer. (Inside baseball: As a Marlin, Gonzalez was known as “Sea Bass.”)
Loading ...Perhaps Tyler Pastornicky, the minor-league shortstop also acquired in this deal, will develop. But what Frank Wren suggested Wednesday was that the Braves aren’t much worried about tomorrow. “We’re two years away from having to worry about that,” the general manager said. “After the 2011 season … we’ll cross that bridge at that time.”
This trade tells us the Braves no longer saw Escobar as a long-term answer, either, and they were justified in that conclusion. “He’s a talented guy,” Wren said of Escobar, “but we needed to make some adjustments on our ballclub. It just wasn’t happening here.”
This is a happier clubhouse than it has been in years, and not just because the team is in first place. Because these guys like and respect one another. The one guy who didn’t fit — and who was never going to fit, no matter how many chances the Braves offered — just got traded. “In the short term, this really improves our ballclub,” Wren said, and it improves it not because Gonzalez is a greater talent but because he’s a real pro.
Addition by subtraction, I believe it’s called.
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438 comments Add your comment
Braves Fan
July 14th, 2010
5:05 pm
Oh Ron – really now.
Keith
July 14th, 2010
5:05 pm
Sporting News thinks its a pretty good move for the Braves.
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/71466
JTH
July 14th, 2010
5:13 pm
Just like the Francouer trade, it will make them a better team by cutting out the problem. Cut out the cancer, the body heals.
Braves, Blue Jays swap shortstops: Yunel Escobar to Toronto, Alex Gonzalez to … – USA Today
July 14th, 2010
5:15 pm
[...] for GonzalezMLB.comEscobar trade raises divisional, cultural issues »New York Daily News (blog)Addition by subtraction: The Braves trade Yunel EscobarAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)msnbc.com -Rotowire -SportingNews.comall 346 news [...]
Christopher Chance
July 14th, 2010
5:16 pm
Up until this season, I was solidly behind Escobar. However, the Braves have a chance to be a World Series team this year. The Braves couldnt afford to give Escobar the 2nd half of the season to work out of his funk at the plate. Gonzalez is going to bat 7th in this lineup. I could care less about him being a .250 hitter. He has pop in his bat and is a true professional. Instant upgrade and coup for Frank Wren and the Braves. Definitely puts pressure on the Phillies and Mets to do something.
The Braves hold a $2.5 mil team option on Gonzalez in 2011. Assuming that Escobar has a decent second half, he would be in line to get a significant raise in arbitration over the winter that would exceed the $2.5 mil that Gonzalez is scheduled to get in 2011.
The fact that Gonzalez has played on a World Championship team and has extensive playoff experience………cannot be down played.
Jo Jo Reyes was NEVER going to be given another chance to start for the Braves.
As far as the 2 Minor Leaguers that the Braves got in the trade, I’ll reserve judgment until I see them make a contribution on the Major League roster.
Now if Chipper and McCann can turn it up in the 2nd half and provide some consistent power, then the Braves will put a lot of pressure on the Phillies and Mets to further mortgage the future by making a blockbuster trade in order to have a shot at catching the Braves.
Frank Wren should easily win the Executive of the Year award.
Herschel Talker
July 14th, 2010
5:16 pm
Ron at 4:56:
Whatchoo talking about Willis? You are rambling like a fool.
HT
Ron July
July 14th, 2010
5:18 pm
thickfreakness——How about making a substanative comment. I’ve blogged a lot and the real freaking idiots are those whose only contribution to the subject is a one line sentence. Nice, informative literary piece….
Herschel Talker
July 14th, 2010
5:20 pm
jeffrey d:
While I think anyone with half a brain would agree that over their careers to date, Yunel is better than Alex, would you not say that Alex gives us the best chance to win this whole thing this year? I am not sure about the depth in our farm system and who would be starting in 2012, but this is the type of year to make this move. The Tex trade in 2007 was a disaster not just because of what we gave up, but more importantly because we had no freaking shot, so it was a waste. As for this year, what we don’t need is Yunel’s dead weight in the lineup. If we can win the title this year, then I am more than happy to worry about the SS position some time later in the future. Yunel’s brain farts and McLouthesque stats would be an albatross for a team with world series aspirations.
HT
Lance
July 14th, 2010
5:22 pm
As a Jay’s fan — The Braves got the better side of this trade for sure.
Scott
July 14th, 2010
5:23 pm
Folks, this has SMART written all over it:
1) GM trying to do everything now to win it all now in Cox’s last year
2) Experience- Gonzalez has been there … he’s a pro … knows what it takes to win it all. Escobar may get there, but Braves unwilling to wait at this time.
3) If you want to play for the Braves … hopefully a wake up call for a promising young shortstop.
Einsteindawg
July 14th, 2010
5:23 pm
Great move Mr. Frank Wren. Two years from now, Unel will be back cutting sugarcane in the Islands.
Christopher Chance
July 14th, 2010
5:25 pm
Biff Pocoroba…………..why would the Braves employ an interpreter for Yunel when they have several players and coaches who speak Spanish? No one on the Braves speak Japanese. Big difference.
Feeanch
July 14th, 2010
5:28 pm
THIS IS THE BEST MOVE WE HAVE MADE IN YEARS. Not necessarily for who we got but who we got rid of. Kudos Bradley. Right on the money.
Floyd
July 14th, 2010
5:31 pm
At 27, you’re no longer “immature” because “immature” implies that your attitude may improve with age. Players who perform this way at 22 are immature….guys who do so at Yunel’s age are just lazy. A great move by Wren…Gonzalez is talented, professional and affordable.
AL HRABOSKY
July 14th, 2010
5:32 pm
ron………the catcher blocking the plate is one of the dumbest and most dangerous plays in the game.
Tom
July 14th, 2010
5:41 pm
Don’t forget that Infante and Conrad can both play short, that could be in the thinking if Alex does not resign next year. Not bad choices in my mind, also the kid at Gwinnett has already major league defense but his hitting must get better. It is a good trade for us even though JoJo might do well in different setting!
AL HRABOSKY
July 14th, 2010
5:41 pm
This was a good move by Wren. I concur with his decision. Escobar just didn’t appear to be on the same page with the rest of the team.
Escobar always looked like someone standing next to him, had just cut one of those silent but deadly poots, or like someone had just taken a great big dump on his birthday cake, or both.
I hope that Escobar fares well at his new home, but I believe the Braves will prosper from his departure.
AL HRABOSKY
July 14th, 2010
5:44 pm
BE GONE! Bad vibrations.
Braves make first move, give up on Yunel Escobar » – New York Daily News (blog) – 380th Edition |
July 14th, 2010
5:44 pm
[...] Gonzalez to …USA TodayYouth, hitting skills will leave Braves regretting Escobar tradeSI.comAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -msnbc.com -Rotowireall 354 news [...]
chopper
July 14th, 2010
5:55 pm
As a former athlete theres nothing more irritating than some punk who gets paid millions of dollars to play basesball and won’t husltle. So you don’t want to learn English Escky? Well then go learn to speak French CHUMP!
Myron Bolitar
July 14th, 2010
5:56 pm
ron- You finished your babbling referecing the Kelly Johnson trade. Kelly Johnson has never been traded.
Myron Bolitar
July 14th, 2010
5:56 pm
**referencing
Paul ( You doesn't have to call me Johnson)
July 14th, 2010
5:59 pm
Yunel, dos margaritas por favor!
Patrick Romano WHO DAT...
July 14th, 2010
6:00 pm
Great move whenever Escobar got his ass on his shoulders after a questionable error he quit and never came back (in his head & heart) 19 RBI’s and NO homers does not turn around mid-way. Perhaps he will get his act together or become another Andruw Jones, great move Mr. Wren to have the forethought while we’re in 1st to keep the momentum going as I did not see it happening with Yunel. 446 games is plenty of opportunity to get his act together… and he NEVER did.
Ron April
July 14th, 2010
6:04 pm
Evidently nobody told any of the other pro catchers that.
Being a goaltender and blocking the puck is dangerous, getting hit in the head by a 97 mph fastball is dangerous, QB getting blindsided by a defensive end is dangerous. He has some protection and, sorry, that’s part of his job.
Wren said (regarding the Escobar trade), “Getting a guy we can control for a year and a half was important to us”. Ah, I believe that’s Cox’s job. Don’t fire Eunel, fire Bobby Cox—-the root cause of the problem. Too bad he didn’t leave last year when he said he would.
Gonzalez is earning $2.75 Million this year and has an option for $2.5 Million next year. Do you think the fact that Younel is earning $435,000 this year bothers him? Maybe offering Younel a $2 Million contract might have improved his “attitude”. I dunno’, just spit ballin’ here…..
Of course, Gonzalez is happy to leave the Blue Jays—-same division as the Yankees and currently 12.5 games behind them. Oh, BTW, this should play well in the club house—-”He immediately leads our team in Home Runs with 17.” That should make the “close” clubhouse feel real good—–or like real losers. Glaus has only 14, most on the club. Thanks Terry Pendleton, now start packing. Maybe Gonzales can teach the guys how to hit homers.
the jays
July 14th, 2010
6:08 pm
all you braves fans are gonna get very interested in Tim Collins quickly, he flew through the jays system and now at age 20 he’s at double A with 15k/9. at only 5′7(if that) 150 lbs he dials up the heat to 94 with a hammer curve (best in the jays system) although only a reliever he’s to good to overlook. pastornicky will swipe tones of bags, a solid eye at the plate and good/great defence.
luvthosedawgs68
July 14th, 2010
6:10 pm
I’m disappointed by the negative reaction to a trade that shouldn’t be a shock to anyone who has watched Yunel play all year. Within 5 seconds of the Yunel/Glaus play earlier this weekend, I said to myself, ?@#%&!!! That’s it!! He’s finished in Atlanta. That lob to first could’ve potentially ended Troy’s season. The yelling after pop-ups and slamming the bat down was gettin’ really old, really fast. I really believe Wren did what he had to do. AND, all Gonzo has to do is hit .240 with 1HR and 20 RBI to be better than Yunel was. Sounds like a no-brainer to me………
Rachel
July 14th, 2010
6:11 pm
Yunel was a clearly a cancer in the dug out. He always had a miserable look on his face and it seemed like it was uncomfortable to be around him. Yes his arm is good, but he doesn’t hustle and half the time his head’s not in the game. Bottom line – we’ll be fine without him and probably have even better chemistry.
Bleu_Bayou42
July 14th, 2010
6:12 pm
I don’t get the Sea Bass reference, Can someone explain?
ivan
July 14th, 2010
6:14 pm
I was hoping that it would never come to this. My first thought was terrible move however
i’m tired of trying to act like I know better than Frank Wren. Maybe they know more about what was wrong with yunel?
Anyway I’m tired of putting my foot in my mouth and critisizing Wren. He’s done a fine job. I just hope this guy can hit. As memory serves me he wasn’t much of a hitter with florida and cinncinatti? Anybody know his stats?
GMR
July 14th, 2010
6:17 pm
While your colleague Mr Schultz and many others focus on Escobar’s numbers there is another side to this and that is what we actually see at the game. What I have seen this year is a player doing Andruw Jones impersonations at the plate, showing little discipline and falling off balance while taking mighty swings at down and away pitches. So added to the lack of focus/concentration issues we have the possibility that Escobar is just not coachable, at least not by TP. I believe the Braves have been considering a trade for a couple of months, particularly when you take a look at their early draft picks. This was a good move by Wren – Escobar was a lost cause in Atlanta even though he may yet come good in another environment following this hefty kick up the backside.
Four games up, 74 to play: Can the Braves hold on? Sure
July 14th, 2010
6:30 pm
[...] — Omar Infante, Kris Medlen, Brooks Conrad — delivering when deployed. (And the subtraction of Yunel Escobar should only enhance the [...]
AOI
July 14th, 2010
6:30 pm
Didn’t Jeff Blauser warn Cox about Yunel’s lack of effort back when he was in the minors. Escobar should have been included in the deal for Texiera, not Elvis Andrus.
Elliot F
July 14th, 2010
6:30 pm
Gonzalez 17 home runs, Escobar 0. Enough said
eastbound and down
July 14th, 2010
6:31 pm
hey, mark, according to the sporting news, you are an “attack dog” woof, woof!
i watched the braves-mets game on mlb network last friday night and the mets’ announcers were down on yunel for several plays: not turning a DP, a lackadaisical throw that almost got glaus injured, losing the popup that turned into a double and that funky, belly flop of a slide on his double. a lot of talent, but a headcase
one last thing, “Yunel, you are (expletive deleted) out!”
Plate Appearance
July 14th, 2010
6:31 pm
YOUTH AND PROMISE FOR AGE AND FOOLISHNESS (WREN’S)
I’ts a good thing Frank was able to make a trade like this and still have a young shortstop like Elvis Andrus in our farm system!*
*(Is my frustration showing? We all know where Elvis is.)
This is another Smoltz for Alexander type of trade — with the Braves on the short and foolish end of the stick!
In spite of his rough first half (by his standards), I truly believe Escobar was the best young SS in the National League!
What a shame! What a loss of talent!
Terrible trade!
Terrible GM!
Bubba G
July 14th, 2010
6:32 pm
Any doubters of the trade think about this, would you rather have a guy who doesn’t listen and has a terrible attitude or a guy who has experience and seems to always enjoy playing the game. If you look at his stats, Alex is having a better season that many of the braves, not only yunel. I’m not worried about Yunel Escobar being great in the future because we need to win now and since Escobar counldn’t get it done i think it was right for the Braves to look for a trade. Also, the prospects we got in the trade look great on paper. I’m sure they can produce better than Jo Jo Reyes did for us. If you are a fan or power, Alex Gonzalez has 17 home runs! That’s more than any Brave player and more homeruns than any shortstop in the MLB!!!!!!!! So don’t be a critic if you believe in winning and want the Braves to continue winning. Frank Wren is proving to be a smart Gm and he is making moves that will help win the East and set us up for a chance at the WS! Go Braves!!!!!!
Bubba G
July 14th, 2010
6:34 pm
of
Braves make first move, give up on Yunel Escobar » – New York Daily News (blog) | The Simple Approach
July 14th, 2010
6:40 pm
[...] Gonzalez to …USA TodayYouth, hitting skills will leave Braves regretting Escobar tradeSI.comAddition by subtraction: The Braves trade Yunel EscobarAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)msnbc.com -Rotowire -SportingNews.comall 422 news [...]
Chris
July 14th, 2010
6:51 pm
What are they gonna do with Omar Infante? He has been tearing it up as of late. I love the trade due to Escobars lack of huslte. I just hope they dont waste Infantes bat just yet.
Joe Biden
July 14th, 2010
6:53 pm
Dont worry Yunel, our administration hasnt hit a home run in the last two seasons and lead the nation in strike outs. On behalf of our team we welcome you to the Washington Nationals. We love the NFL!
Navigator
July 14th, 2010
6:54 pm
I take a different view here, Yunel got what he wanted and got away from this lame duck manager that is stuck in the ideals of the 1960’s. Yunel did it the wrong way, but he did it nonetheless. Here’s betting that this will have haunt the Braves when the be cool dude attitude is gone with the Cox and Jones.
Ron September
July 14th, 2010
7:08 pm
When Infante got the call from Wren (I think), that he made the All Star team, instead of being overjoyed, his first reaction was that he was being notified that he was being traded!
He knows this organization too well. Look for another increase in ticket prices but, on the brighter side, you won’t have to spend money on World Series tickets…..
Freddie: G
July 14th, 2010
7:22 pm
Gonzalez is a good player who should help the Braves this year, but I enjoyed watching Escobar play defense. Wren has made some good moves that have benefited the Braves. I supported him when almost everyone was bashing him for the John Smoltz deal, but he proved then that he is not afraid to make a bold move to better the team, whether or not that move is popular. He later traded the Golden Boy Jeff Francoeur. My only gripe was how Tom Glavine’s situation was handled, not the decision itself. Escobar is not a problem as yu’all are making him out to be. Frank saw the potential to better the team now, and at the same time looking at the long term and what they have at the position in the minor leagues. He is looking to win now but not at the expense of the future. It is said that the Shortstop position is a position of strength in the Braves organisation and this season they drafted another Shortstop. Escobar would likely be out in the next 2-3 years unless his numbers were as they were last year, therefore Gonzalez will bridge the arrival of the future Shortstop in a couple of years.
Reid Adair
July 14th, 2010
7:33 pm
How quickly those who didn’t like Yunel Escobar forget the second half of the 2009 season. He’ll reach his full potential in the near future – but not in Atlanta.
Freddie: G
July 14th, 2010
7:50 pm
Jim Powell, will you be happy now that Escobar has been traded?
Who will you now take shots at? You are a Commentator tell us about the game and don’t bring out your dislike for any player like you did with regards to Escobar. Try and be like Sutton.
Four games up, 74 to play: Can the Braves hold on? Sure – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Daily News
July 14th, 2010
7:50 pm
[...] different — Omar Infante, Kris Medlen, Brooks Conrad — delivering whеn deployed. (And thе subtraction οf Yunel Escobar ѕhουld οnlу enhance thе [...]
Tom
July 14th, 2010
7:58 pm
RON APRIL – You are an idiot and your comments represent a bad attitude about the Braves! Go crawl back into your hole!!!
Four games up, 74 to play: Can the Braves hold on? Sure – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) » Braves, They, April, All-Star, This, Heres » Season Style
July 14th, 2010
8:02 pm
[...] of someone opposite — Omar Infante, Kris Medlen, Brooks Conrad — delivering when deployed. (And the multiplication of Yunel Escobar should usually raise a [...]
Four games up, 74 to play: Can the Braves hold on? Sure – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Google News Update
July 14th, 2010
8:04 pm
[...] name different — Omar Infante, Kris Medlen, Brooks Conrad — delivering whеn deployed. (And thе subtraction οf Yunel Escobar ѕhουld οnlу enhance thе [...]